CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Republican candidates spoke on infrastructure, inflation and security at the first-ever GOP Convention of Candidates at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center on Tuesday.
Attending the event were five candidates for Clarksville City Council, four Tennessee General Assembly candidates, and Congressman Mark Green, who is up for re-election. There was also a video call from U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, also up for re-election, and opening remarks by the chairman of the Montgomery County GOP, Doug Englen.
City Council candidates
Jerry Haywood speaking at the GOP Convention of Candidates, hosted at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. (Curtis Leblanc)
Kyong Dawson speaking at the GOP Convention of Candidates, hosted at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. (Curtis Leblanc)
Jimmy Brown speaking at the GOP Convention of Candidates, hosted at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. (Curtis Leblanc)
City Councilperson Ambar Marquis and her child at the GOP Convention of Candidates, hosted at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. (Curtis Leblanc)
Carlos Peters speaking at the GOP Convention of Candidates, hosted at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. (Curtis Leblanc)
Carlos Peters, candidate for Ward 3, said the reason he entered this race is because when the tornado devastated the community last year, they needed more help than what was given. That’s why one of his main concerns is transparency in government. He said, “I won’t be a yes man if it’s not good for the ward or the city. I’m not gonna be a rubber stamp.” He’s also said he’s concerned about people voting in meetings without really listening to their constituents. Peters opposes building businesses in residential areas, supports green spaces, and wants to update community centers to be friendly to the next generation.
City Councilperson Ambar Marquis of Ward 5 said she plans to focus on infrastructure and public safety. She said she’ll accomplish this by updating the Clarksville Neighborhood Traffic Management Program (which hasn’t been updated since its conception in 2002) to deter speeders, thereby preventing accidents. Marquis said she disagreed with the council’s 20-cent property tax initiated in 2021, but now that it’s law, she’ll work hard to make sure property taxes go to what’s essential to the community.
Kyong Dawson, candidate for Ward 8, said she wants to prove that America is an opportunity country. Her primary focus is alleviating traffic congestion by widening roads. When asked about community engagement, she said she wants voters to educate themselves on candidates instead of voting by party, and that those who know the candidates are those who care about the community.
Jerry Haywood, candidate for Ward 8, talked about how his experiences as a combat medic and son of a veteran have given him the administrative skills to represent his ward. He wants to focus on infrastructure and public safety. He said, “We keep building and building, and our roads can’t handle all the traffic. We can’t handle these 15-minute drives, and it takes too long for first responders to respond to accidents.”
Jimmy Brown, candidate for Ward 9, also opposes new taxes and said he wants to make sure current taxes are allocated correctly. In reference to the 20-cent property tax increase, he said “We’re going to make sure that money is going to those (infrastructure) projects. No more new taxes. Just because you can raise taxes doesn’t mean you need to.”
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State and federal candidates
Rep. Mark Green speaking at the GOP Convention of Candidates, hosted at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. (Curtis Leblanc)
Jamie Dean Peltz speaking at the GOP Convention of Candidates, hosted at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. (Curtis Leblanc)
(From left to right) State Rep. Jeff Burkhart and State Sen. Bill Powers at the GOP Convention of Candidates, hosted at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. (Curtis Leblanc)
Chairman Doug Englen speaking at the GOP Convention of Candidates, hosted at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. (Curtis Leblanc)
A cutout of former President Donald Trump at the GOP Convention of Candidates at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. (Curtis Leblanc)
New Clarksville Montgomery County Republican Party Logo showcased at the GOP Convention of Candidates, hosted at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. (Curtis Leblanc)
GOP Chair Doug Englen onstage at the GOP Convention of Candidates, hosted at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. (Curtis Leblanc)
A table at the GOP Convention of Candidates, hosted at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. (Curtis Leblanc)
(From left to right) Jimmy Brown, Bill Powers, and Jeff Burkhart at the GOP Convention of Candidates at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. (Curtis Leblanc)
(From left to right) MCRW members Teresa Tuttle, Marie Tillman, and Pat Allen at the GOP Convention of Candidates, hosted at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. (Curtis Leblanc)
A truck with a campaign sign for Bill Powers at the GOP Convention of Candidates at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. (Curtis Leblanc)
Merch table at the GOP Convention of Candidates, hosted at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. (Curtis Leblanc)
Aron Maberry, candidate for House District 68 and Clarksville-Montgomery County School Board member, said the primary focus of his campaign was school choice and said, “Parents should be in the driver’s seat of their kid’s education.” Maberry also wants to repeal the Certificate of Need law, which sets a limit of one hospital for Montgomery County. He said that Clarksville will surpass Chattanooga in two years, and that city has four hospitals. Maberry also opposes any new taxes.
Rep. Jeff Burkhart of House District 75 said he wants to focus on road construction and improvements if elected to a second term. Burkhart referenced his support for the Modernization Plan that provided $807 million for Interstate 24 and the widening Trenton Road. He also helped secure funds to open a second DMV location. If elected, he said, he will protect the Second Amendment, oppose gender reassignment surgeries for minors and oppose illegal immigration.
Jamie Dean Peltz, candidate for House District 67, said, “I didn’t go to a forum with Ronnie and tell people my opinions. I’m here for you to tell me what’s important to you.” Her plan is to prioritize infrastructure and education if elected, and she said she wants to open dialogues with her constituents to better represent her district.
Sen. Bill Powers of District 22 said, “We are good with money in Tennessee, we have a balanced budget, something the federal government knows nothing about.” Powers said inflation is a key issue, and that the federal government should do whatever it can to balance its budget like Tennessee does. He also wants to tackle immigration, calling open borders a failed policy.
Congressman Mark Green of U.S. House District 7, said he initially decided not to run for re-election until he received a phone call from former President Donald Trump asking him to reconsider. He said that when he was in the state Senate, he helped pass a bill to repeal the state income tax, making Tennessee the second state after Alaska to do so. In Congress, he became chairman of the Committee of Homeland Security after just two terms, and said he passed the most conservative border security bill in the country.
About the convention
The Chairman of the Montgomery County Republican Party, Doug Englen, spoke at the start of the inaugural event to introduce the candidates to the public. Englen said the GOP Convention of Candidates was designed during the pandemic as a modified fundraiser.
He said social media doesn’t represent the issues that the public cares about, such as security and inflation, and referenced this in his speech before introducing the candidates. “We know we’re under attack, that there are two genders, and that all men and women are created equal. Don’t believe social media. We are far ahead and we’re going to sweep like we did in August.”
For more, visit the Montgomery County Republican Party online.
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